In creating
the musical score for The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, James Newton
Howard built on iconic themes from Tchaikovsky’s
1892 Nutcracker ballet score.
According to Howard, “Tchaikovsky was one of the great melody writers of all
time. The colors of 'The Nutcracker' ballet score have become a part of the
vocabulary of film music. It's where so much of the 19th-century romantic music
that I call upon as a film composer is rooted.” Performed by The Philharmonic Orchestra in London, led by conductor
Gustavo Dudamel, the score
brings me back to my youth and wonder at seeing Mikhail Baryshnikov perform in a
televised version of The Nutcracker when I was a child.

Huge
orchestral pieces with woodwinds, strings and percussion introduce us to a world
larger than life. Tinkling bells,
celeste, choral pieces and beautifully
dramatic piano pieces performed by Lang Lang bring us the magic of this new
world Clara finds herself in. Faster paced score tells the tale of Clara’s
journey to right the wrongs of this new mysterious and magical parallel world.
While the whole score of the movie is magical and awe-inspiring, my favorite
track is The Nutcracker Suite which, once again, brings me back to my
youth, but also instills upon me a new admiration for the ballet with Lang
Lang’s beautiful piano performance. The final song on The Nutcracker and the
Four Realms Soundtrack is Fall on Me, a beautiful track about finding
one’s self performed by Andrea Bocelli and his son
Matteo Bocelli.

Intensely
beautiful and traditional at times and fantastically awe-inspiring at others, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Soundtrackis a terrific listen for any
music aficionado. The hints of Tchaikovsky mixed with James Newton Howard’s own
creations are awesome and I have no doubt the score enhances the visuals of this
film. The soundtrack is definitely well worth the listen!